Roger Utlagh
Encyclopedia
Roger Utlagh, or Roger Outlawe (c.1260-1341 ) was a leading Irish statesman of the fourteenth century and held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Today he is remembered as the brother-in-law of the celebrated " Witch of KIlkenny " Alice Kyteler
, and for his efforts to shield her from prosecution.
: the Outlawe or Utlagh family were prominent among the merchants of the city. His brother William was Mayor around 1301: he is best remembered as first husband of Alice Kyteler , a connection which caused Roger great trouble in later life.
Roger joined the order of the Hospitallers and served with the English army against the Scots, where he is said to have given good service to the Crown. He became Prior of Kilmainham in 1317 or 1318 : as such he was entitled to sit in Parliament and soon acquired a reputation as an able statesman. He was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland
in 1321 and served till 1325; between 1320 and his death in 1341 he frequently acted as Justiciar or Deputy Justiciar.At the same time he was fully involved in the affairs of the priory of Kilmainham and is said to have done much to increase its revenues. He died at the order's house in Limerick, which gave its name to present-day Hospital.
, Richard de Ledrede, accused a number of prominent citizens of sorcery: the alleged ringleaders were Roger's sister-in-law Alice Kyteler and her son William Outlawe junior. In the circumstances the Bishop's request that the Chancellor arrest his own family was a strange one.Roger "not so credulous as others, or willing to befriend his relatives " advised that forty days must elapse before an arrest could be made. When the Bishop resisted persuasion to drop the case he was arrested himself , almost certainly with the Chancellor's connivance and imprisoned for seventeen days.
Undeterred by his imprisonment Ledrede on his release made a second request that Roger arrest the suspects; at the same time he ignored a summons from the Chancellor to appear and justify putting his diocese under an interdict.Despite Roger's efforts the Bishop persuaded the Justiciar ,John Darcy, to hold a full trial. Roger is said to have been present but any efforts he made to secure acquittals were in vain. . Alice managed to flee the country,no doubt with her brother-in-law's help, but William was sentenced to do penance and another of the accused Petronella de Meath was burnt at the stake.
Ledrede now decided to attack the Chancellor himself and in 1328 accused him of heresy. This was a mistake: Roger was a trusted servant of the Crown and generally respected, and no-one except Ledrede believed that he was guilty of anything but a desire to help his family. Roger sensibly insisted on a full inquiry: a Commission was appointed which invited witnesses to appear and make any charges they wished.While some witnesses did appear the report of the Commission was that Roger was a zealous and orthodox champion of the faith. Roger celebrated his vindication with a public banquet.
Alice Kyteler
Dame Alice Kyteler , was a woman who was the earliest person accused and condemned for witchcraft in Ireland. She fled the country, but her servant Petronella de Meath was flogged and burned at the stake on November 3, 1324....
, and for his efforts to shield her from prosecution.
Biography
He was born in KilkennyKilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
: the Outlawe or Utlagh family were prominent among the merchants of the city. His brother William was Mayor around 1301: he is best remembered as first husband of Alice Kyteler , a connection which caused Roger great trouble in later life.
Roger joined the order of the Hospitallers and served with the English army against the Scots, where he is said to have given good service to the Crown. He became Prior of Kilmainham in 1317 or 1318 : as such he was entitled to sit in Parliament and soon acquired a reputation as an able statesman. He was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
in 1321 and served till 1325; between 1320 and his death in 1341 he frequently acted as Justiciar or Deputy Justiciar.At the same time he was fully involved in the affairs of the priory of Kilmainham and is said to have done much to increase its revenues. He died at the order's house in Limerick, which gave its name to present-day Hospital.
Kilkenny Witch Trials
In 1324, while Lord Chancellor ,Roger became both personally and politically involved in the Kilkenny Witch Trials. The Bishop of OssoryBishop of Ossory
The Bishop of Ossory is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient of Kingdom of Ossory in the Province of Leinster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of Ossory...
, Richard de Ledrede, accused a number of prominent citizens of sorcery: the alleged ringleaders were Roger's sister-in-law Alice Kyteler and her son William Outlawe junior. In the circumstances the Bishop's request that the Chancellor arrest his own family was a strange one.Roger "not so credulous as others, or willing to befriend his relatives " advised that forty days must elapse before an arrest could be made. When the Bishop resisted persuasion to drop the case he was arrested himself , almost certainly with the Chancellor's connivance and imprisoned for seventeen days.
Undeterred by his imprisonment Ledrede on his release made a second request that Roger arrest the suspects; at the same time he ignored a summons from the Chancellor to appear and justify putting his diocese under an interdict.Despite Roger's efforts the Bishop persuaded the Justiciar ,John Darcy, to hold a full trial. Roger is said to have been present but any efforts he made to secure acquittals were in vain. . Alice managed to flee the country,no doubt with her brother-in-law's help, but William was sentenced to do penance and another of the accused Petronella de Meath was burnt at the stake.
Ledrede now decided to attack the Chancellor himself and in 1328 accused him of heresy. This was a mistake: Roger was a trusted servant of the Crown and generally respected, and no-one except Ledrede believed that he was guilty of anything but a desire to help his family. Roger sensibly insisted on a full inquiry: a Commission was appointed which invited witnesses to appear and make any charges they wished.While some witnesses did appear the report of the Commission was that Roger was a zealous and orthodox champion of the faith. Roger celebrated his vindication with a public banquet.